Investors Have Committed $1 Billion to Aerospace Start-Ups This Year

31 July 2018 || 2
min read

“Money is pouring into start-ups making spacecraft, aircraft, or building businesses around them; this year, financial data firm Preqin tracked venture investment totaling $927 million in the sector through July 26.”

Due to technological advances that allow for more streamlined designing and prototyping of complex aerospace systems, investments are being driven more and more frequently in larger amounts to support the rapid development of new innovative technologies.

Among the many aerospace startups being invested in, flying cars have gained a large amount of traction. An article published in The Verge detailed how Google co-Founder Larry Page owns not one, but three flying car companies.

The flow of capitol is indicative of even greater investor sentiment and confidence than was present in the 1990’s – but since the majority of new aerospace companies are privately held and youthful, it’s hard to predict with much certainty the long-term financial performance of the industry.

Visionaries like Page have the means to support multiple aerospace start ups regardless of external funding or approval – the only hindrance from progress being their own decision to stop work. However, given the increasingly competitive and filled flying car industry, all signs hint at ramping up development and testing to deploy first. Page’s lesser-known flying car company, Opener, made a huge splash as video of the Opener BlackFly eVTOL was released to the public for the first time.

Why it’s important: While general public approval is helpful for implementation of aerospace systems at scale, investor sentiment is equally as critical during periods of development of complex technological systems. All indications at the moment point towards positive sentiment and continued investment in the flying car arena.